Hundreds attend topless protest in Minneapolis
Published 10:06 am Monday, August 24, 2015
MINNEAPOLIS — Hundreds of people gathered in a Minneapolis park Sunday afternoon as part of a national “Go Topless Day” meant to show that women should have the same right as men to bare their skin.
The Star Tribune reports several women fully exposed their breasts during the event in Gold Medal Park, while others covered up with colorful tape. Some men wore bikini tops and bras in a show of solidarity.
Organizer Faith Neumann, 24, told the newspaper ahead of the event it was a way for women to feel comfortable with themselves and around others.
“As long as men are allowed to be topless in public, women should have the same constitutional right,” the event’s Facebook page says. “It is time for women to achieve the same rights. Skin is skin.”
Neumann said she cautioned attendees about the potential of being arrested for going topless.
But Minneapolis police spokesman John Elder told The Associated Press police were not called to the event, and no arrests were made.
Children weren’t welcome, as it could have mean legal trouble for indecent exposure to minors.
Charlotte Jaskier and Erik Olsen drove an hour and a half from Clayton, Wisconsin, to join the event, the newspaper reported.
“There’s no reason that I’m standing next to him (without a shirt), and I’m the one that gets arrested,” said Jaskier.
A similar event was planned in Alexandria, Minn., as well as New York and Los Angeles and other cities.